November 30, 2015

You guys - this book is like nothing you've ever experienced before. And I'm so excited to help roll it out to the world. Check out my review for ANARCHY FOUND by JA Huss, and enter the giveaway for 5 $100 Amazon gift cards, plus 5 signed copies of Anarchy Found.

Anarchy Found (Super Alphas #1), by JA Huss
Publish Date: December 2, 2015Publisher: self-publishedFormat: e-ARC, provided by the authorGenre: adult contemporary sci-fi/fantasy romanceTo Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 4.5 STARS
(From Goodreads) Everyone needs a hero.
That’s what Detective Molly Masters tells me. “What we need,” she says, “what the whole world needs,” she pleads, “is a champion.”
The only thing I want to talk about with Molly Masters is how I’d like to make her scream my name when I push her up against a wall, slide my hand up her thigh, and live out my wildest fantasies.
“Someone who will fight against injustice,” she says.
I’ll fight against anything you want, honey. Just come a little closer.
“Someone who will stand tall in the face of adversity,” she says.
I’ll do it standing, sitting, or lying down. See how easy I am?
“Someone who believes in the value of a good deed,” she says.
I believe in the value of me, sweetheart. Because I’m Lincoln Wade. Jaded genius, obscenely wealthy, capable of violence, and looking for revenge.
Molly Masters might have delusions of grandeur. She might see me as some superman capable of cleaning up the scum, filth, and corruption in Cathedral City.
But I’m not the hero she’s looking for.
I’m the dark alley where all her good intentions hide.
So be careful what you wish for, Molly Masters.
Because you’re about to get it.

I have to admit - I struggled with how to write my review for Anarchy Found. That is mostly because I have nothing I can compare this to - there is no standard. No set bar to reach. Anarchy Found is unlike any book I've ever read before (and I've read A LOT of books in the past four years).

It's not exactly a super hero book, although the men featured in this book are definitely super, and their hero potential is off the charts. It's not exactly a romantic book, even though some parts definitely had me swooning. It's not erotica, but prepare for some sizzling hot chapters. And it's not an MC book, even though our main character, Lincoln Wade, owns a few bikes and rides them like he means it.

Anarchy Found is none of those things, and yet all of them at the same time. Trust me - this is a good thing. And, what's even better is, this is just the beginning of what I'm guessing will be an exciting ride.

Molly is a green detective who is six months out from the tragic loss of her brother, who is the last family she has left. She runs into Lincoln one night on a rainy stretch of road, and has an interesting and unexpected afternoon with him. There's no doubt he left an impression on her

But damn if he isn't one sexy asshole in that leather jacket, the tight jeans that show the muscles in his legs, that black t-shirt clinging to his chest like it's painted on, and a face I might be thinking about when I'm alone tonight.

Prepare yourself for some serious info dump in Anarchy Found. It definitely sets the stage for the rest of the series, and as such, there is a lot of backstory to reveal and absorb. Luckily, it's not done all at once in long droning paragraphs. The story of how Lincoln Wade and Molly Masters ended up where they are today is slowly revealed as Molly tries to uncover how and why employees of one company committed suicide.

Lincoln is unlike any hero you've ever encountered before - I promise you that. I can't tell you all the reasons why - that will spoil the fun. But, I can tell you that Linc embodies the anti-hero role. When he tells Molly that he's the bad guy, he really means it.

She's a cop. I'm a criminal. She's good and I'm bad. She's the end and I'm the beginning.

So, you have to ask yourself - if someone does bad things for a good reason, what does that make them? A hero? A villain with a conscience? Are good intentions enough to absolve someone of the consequences of their actions? These are all questions I found myself asking as I read Anarchy Found. Molly asked herself those questions too. And by the end, I think both of us had our answers.

One of my favorite parts about Anarchy Found was the connection between Linc and Molly. It was powerful from the very beginning. I had no idea how powerful it was, or why, until many chapters later. Before I fully understood everything that was going on, Linc's actions and words confused me. He would do and say things that conveyed that he loved this girl fiercely. And then, he would say and do something to contradict that. But, in the end, it was crystal clear that Molly was it for him, and always had been.

"I didn't save anyone. You saved yourself. And don't you ever forget that. You're the superhero with all the power and I am nothing without you."

There's a very strong sci-fi element to Anarchy Found. There were times that I found myself likening to to the X-Men franchise. Other times, it had a bit of a Terminator vibe to it. And, still other times, despite Lincoln's constant annoyance at the comparison, I could've sworn that he was a Batman wannabe and Cathedral City was the new Gotham. No matter what you compare it to, just be aware that each chapter sends you further and further down the rabbit hole, so where you start is light years away from where the book ends.

This review may seem a bit vaguer than usual, and I'm sorry for that. But, SO MUCH happens in this book. I don't want to give any of it away so that you can experience it all for yourself. Prepare for a wild and twisty ride.

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

If you're interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

November 26, 2015

Brace yourselves - JA Huss is rolling out a new series that is unlike anything you've seen before. It's a little bit motorcycle club, a little bit super hero, and a whole lot of alpha male goodness. Check out the cover for book 1 - ANARCHY FOUND.

That’s what Detective Molly Masters tells me. “What we need,” she says, “what the whole world needs,” she pleads, “is a champion.”
The only thing I want to talk about with Molly Masters is how I’d like to make her scream my name when I push her up against a wall, slide my hand up her thigh, and live out my wildest fantasies.
“Someone who will fight against injustice,” she says.
I’ll fight against anything you want, honey. Just come a little closer.
“Someone who will stand tall in the face of adversity,” she says.
I’ll do it standing, sitting, or lying down. See how easy I am?
“Someone who believes in the value of a good deed,” she says.
I believe in the value of me, sweetheart. Because I’m Lincoln Wade. Jaded genius, obscenely wealthy, capable of violence, and looking for revenge.
Molly Masters might have delusions of grandeur. She might see me as some superman capable of cleaning up the scum, filth, and corruption in Cathedral City.
But I’m not the hero she’s looking for.
I’m the dark alley where all her good intentions hide.
So be careful what you wish for, Molly Masters.
Because you’re about to get it.

So, are you excited yet? For more information, check out the Super Alphas website. And as an added bonus, check out this awesome video of the artist drawing the fabulous Lincoln Wade on the cover of Anarchy Found...

November 24, 2015

I am so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster! DARING HER LOVE is a novella in Melissa’s series Love in Bloom: The Bradens, brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Make sure you grab your copy today!

About DARING HER LOVE:
This BRADEN novella features Kat Martin, Brianna Heart's best friend from HEARTS AT PLAY (The Bradens, #6) with appearances from the hot, wealthy, and wickedly naughty Bradens you know and love.

In DARING HER LOVE…
Kat Martin knows what she wants in a man—someone stable and adoring, definitely not the type of guy who sleeps around. After all, Kat rarely does the wrong thing—until she meets seductively enticing Eric James, and suddenly wrong has never felt so right.

When it comes to his career, race-car driver Eric James is intense, obsessive, and passionate, but when it comes to sex, there’s only one kind—daring, unbridled, and no-strings-attached.

One stormy night, a delayed flight and the dangerous allure of the unknown leads Kat to throw caution to the wind, and she indulges in a rendezvous that she vows to immediately forget—but the secret tryst stirs something possessive in Eric, and forgetting is not an option.

“You did great on the plane tonight.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can do better. And my other fears are sort of silly. I know you’ll laugh, but I used to be afraid of driving fast.”
He arched a brow.
“Don’t worry. I totally love driving fast now. Of course, fast in Richmond means sixty-five miles per hour. Nothing like the high speeds you and Hugh drive.” She reached for her bag, and he touched her hand.
“I’ve got it.”
“It’s okay. I can take it.” She didn’t want to lead him on, but there was no denying the heat between them, which had only gotten stronger on the drive over.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to sleep with me for me to carry your bag.” His lips quirked up, and before she could respond, he added, “But you’ll want to, and who am I to try to dissuade you?”
Hell, yeah, she wanted to—but she couldn’t go there. Not at the Braden ranch and not with a man who’d already proved that he could easily turn her world upside down—and would then move on.
“Eric, I’m not sleeping with you again.” No matter how much I want to.
He closed the trunk, and with moonlight shining down on his gorgeous face and his eyes boring into her, he stepped closer and said, “If the airport was all we’ll ever have, then how about one final kiss?”
“A kiss?” She was already salivating at the thought.
“One kiss.” He stepped closer, causing their thighs to brush, and she felt the heat of him from her head to her toes and in all the best places in between. “Then that’s it. A send-off, if you will.”
“A send-off.” This guy was trouble with a capital T. She’d like to get him off, not send him off.
The darkening of his eyes told her that he didn’t miss the breathlessness she felt. He ran his fingers through her hair, settling his warm palm over the nape of her neck and sending a now slightly familiar rush of anticipation through her.
“Tell me no,” he said in a rich voice, “and I’ll back off.”
No, was on the tip of her tongue, but it got lost somewhere between please and kiss me now. She clutched the waist of his pants, unsure of her voice, and hoped he’d take it as confirmation that she wanted the kiss just as much as he did.
“Kat,” he whispered against her lips. “You’re not going to be able to forget me. I won’t let you.”

About Melissa Foster:Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She is the author of the award-winning Love in Bloom series featuring the Snow Sisters, The Bradens, The Remingtons, The Ryders, and Seaside Summers. She writes sexy contemporary romance with sinfully sexy, wealthy, and fiercely loyal heroes, and smart, sassy, and sensual heroines. Her Wild Boys After Dark series is hot enough to burn up the sheets.
Melissa has a wicked chocolate addiction, and she loves to name her characters after readers. She welcomes invitations to Skype with book clubs and reader groups.
Visit Melissa Foster’s website and follow her on:

November 20, 2015

I am so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for Kristen Proby’s LISTEN TO ME. I LOVE this cover so much! Releasing April 12, 2016, LISTEN TO ME is the first novel in Kristen’s Fusion Series, published by William Morrow. Be sure you preorder this one today!

About LISTEN TO ME:
In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s brand new
series, five best friends open a hot new restaurant, but one of them gets much more than she bargained
for when a sexy former rock star walks through the doors—and into her heart.
Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to
claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in
new customers than live music.

But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to
apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were
plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy...exactly her type and exactly what
she doesn’t need.
Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven
him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better.

But
talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in
her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.
Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and
listen to her heart?

About Kristen
Proby:New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the
popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong
characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha
type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for
themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee,
chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Eighteen, by JA Huss
Publish Date: November 18, 2015Publisher: self-publishedFormat: e-ARC, provided by the authorGenre: adult contemporary erotic romanceTo Buy:Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 5 STARS
(From Goodreads) Eighteen is hard. And so is Mateo Alesci.
He’s hard to read, hard to predict, hard in every way that counts. He wants things from me.
Dirty things, nasty things, forbidden things.
And I have to give in.
His attention is completely inappropriate, but I can’t say no. The way he looks at me… the way he watches me through my bedroom window… the way he drags me deeper and deeper into his completely forbidden fantasy world just… turns me on.
He knows it turns me on.
He holds all the power. He holds all the cards.
He holds my entire future in his hands.
And I have to give in.
Because Mr. Alesci is my teacher.
And I need everything he’s offering.

JA Huss has this awesome ability to make you think you're reading one thing, and then she knocks you on your ass when you realize you've got something totally different on your hands. Eighteen was like that for me. I thought it was simply a super hot student-teacher romance book. But, it was so much more than that.

Oh, don't get me wrong. There IS a romance that happens between a teacher and his student. And it IS Super. Hot. But, almost from the very beginning, there was a feeling of... more. A current of tension that constantly hummed beneath the surface. There were the secrets that everyone around Shannon seemed to be keeping from her. There was the truth behind the fact that the life that she had known was gone forever. And there was the impending sense that the shit in her life was about to hit the fan in a huge, epic way.

I don't know much about this world. I'm only eighteen. I feel like a little baby seahorse in a sea of sharks, that's how confusing life is for me right now.

Putting aside the romance for a moment, Eighteen is about the age that turned out to be a pivotal moment in this one girl's life. Her sister died suddenly, after moving herself and Shannon across the country from their native Ohio to southern California. Shannon is forced to stay with her loathsome brother-in-law and her 3-month-old niece, who is now Shannon's only blood family she has left. And to top it all off, she is told by her high school principle that she needs to attend night school in the last half of her senior year if she hopes to graduate.

When all her prospects for happiness and prosperity seem nonexistent, in steps Mateo Alesci, her night school trigonometry teacher. Ten years her senior, Mateo is hot, confident, smart and completely not like any teacher she's ever had before. Unlike other student-teacher romance books you might have read before, the difference here is that Mateo apologizes to no one for any of his actions. He's bold. He doesn't fear getting caught. And he becomes a dominating force in Shannon's life.

"I'm gonna be seeing a lot of you, Shannon Drake. There's no way in hell you'll be invisible to me."

I think Mateo came along at the perfect time for Shannon. She was truly floundering and was forced to take care of herself. She had a hard time letting go of that hard earned control and ceding it to Mateo. Admittedly, she was suspicious of his motives - wouldn't you be? Everyone else in her life has screwed her over in a huge way. Plus, he's her teacher, for crying out loud. And the things he asked her to do - goodness, some of them made ME blush. But, giving control of her body, her feelings, her mind to him turned out to be the best kind of therapy.

I'm addicted to him and what he does to my body. There's no starting over or going back now. I am just addicted and I need more.

Until those secrets I mentioned earlier that everyone around Shannon seemed to be keeping from her started leaking out. I'm a big fan of the Huss Twist. It's that moment in every JA Huss book where your eyes bug out of your head, and you find yourself saying (usually out loud), "No. Freaking. WAY." That was me as soon as everything was revealed. And my heart broke a bit for Shannon in that moment. Yours will too.

But not for long. The bottom of the barrel is paved with healing and hope. And, Shannon is one tough chick. That much is evident from word one. The sweet romance, the hot sex, the gritty life story and the twisty surprises made Eighteen a standout of the year.

(From Goodreads) He's the inked brother. The one you're wondering about. The bad boy of the family. Colin Sloan has a past. He's done things he's not proud of, but he's living differently now. Making changes in his life. Working hard, working out harder, and trying to win over one woman. He's utterly crazy about Elle Mariano, and though the sex is epic, their friends-with-benefits arrangement just isn’t cutting it anymore. He wants all of her, and is determined to prove he’s what she needs in her life.
Elle is fiery, loyal, and in major lust with Colin Sloan. He’s everything she craves in a man -- smart, sexy, kind -- and a rock star between the sheets. But his past hits too close to home for her, and the people she has to protect. There isn't room in her life for a relationship with Colin. Especially when she’s forced to keep a secret that could tear his family apart…

Lauren Blakey's Sinful Nights series is so much more than sexy books with hot alpha men. I mean, it's those things too, but the best and most surprising part about this series are the crazy twists and turns that are woven throughout, and then there's this mystery that continues unravelling with each book in the series. It's so masterfully done that you just can't help but want to read every book in the series.

We've met Colin before. He's the black sheep in the family. The wild child. He doesn't drink - anymore, that is - and now we know the story behind his hard living that landed him in AA and swore him off alcohol forever. It's a sad story, but Colin is all about making amends. He's back on the straight and narrow, and when things get too stressful at his venture capitalist workplace, he uses exercise to get through it instead of booze and pills. And, he's trying to give back by volunteering at a community center.

That is where he meets Elle, the center director. She's the mother of a 14-year-old son and the widow of a man who died from an overdose. She has resolved - for both her sake and her son's - to never tangle herself up with another man with an addiction problem ever again. Which makes things problematic with Colin because they have crazy amazing chemistry together.

Isn't it adorable when men or women in books think that one quick roll in the hay will get the other "out of their system" and they can go back to business as usual? Ha. That plan doesn't work out too well for Elle and Colin either. To be fair, Elle is the only one with that mentality. Colin wants her. In every way, shape and form. And not just for one night.

I love that Colin knows that Elle and her son Alex are a package deal. He knows that he has to win the kid over in order to win the mom over too. He's great with the teenagers, and I loved reading about his interactions with the kids at the center that he tutors in math.

Elle is very guarded with Colin, and for good reason. Not only is her past with her ex a factor, but the fact that she has to think about her son as well. She has every reason to be cautious with Colin in her life. And, just about the time that she makes up her mind to go for it, she's hit with an extenuating circumstance that makes things a lot more complicated for her. And for Colin too. This situation puts Elle's and Colin's budding relationship in jeopardy, and to be honest, neither of them handled it the best.

Elle's hot and cold drove me a little mad. She seemed to be on board the hot Colin train one moment, and then want to run away the next. Back and forth she went several times - it was amazing Colin put up with all the waffling. But, of course, in the end, it all paid off for him.

Sinful Longing backs up the timeline that's been established and overlaps a bit with the events from the second book in the series, Sinful Desire. Sinful Desire ended on a huge reveal and cliffhanger, so now we're seeing the events leading up to that moment. We also see that moment again, from Colin's POV this time instead of older brother Ryan's. And, in keeping with the pattern that's been established, yet another bomb is dropped at the end of Sinful Longing, so I have a feeling we'll come back to that in Sinful Love, which is the final sibling - Michael's - book.

“Do you like the music?” he whispered, his lips so close to her skin. Goose bumps rose on her flesh as she blinked open her eyes.He raised a hand to adjust his tie—he was always doing that, as if ties weren’t his thing—and her gaze settled on his fingers.Magic fingers, she called them. She knew what they could do to her.“Yes, I like the music,” she said, trying to center herself.“I do, too,” he said softly, then stroked his chin. “It’s beautiful. And it reminds me of something.”She raised an eyebrow. “What does it remind you of? Some other piece of music?” She hadn’t known him to be a classical fan. He was rock, alternative, and indie music all the way.He shook his head. “Not music. But something else I enjoy. Trying to remember exactly what.”“Tell me,” she whispered, her curiosity now piqued. Her eyes met his. She searched those dark brown irises, as if she could find the answer there.The sounds from the stage grew louder. “Wait. I think I know.”She widened her eyes, and held out her hands as if to say tell me now.“Turn back to the stage. It helps me think.”She shot him a look, because that made no sense. Shrugging, she returned her focus to the musicians and the victorious sound of the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth.“Ah, that’s it,” Colin whispered. “Now I remember. It reminds me of that thing you like so much.”That thing.His fingers gently traveled up her neck. A small gasp escaped her lips. “Your neck. The way you move when I kiss you right here,” he said, stopping to trace the outline of one of her birds with the pad of his thumb. She nearly moaned out loud. Elle was convinced every woman had a spot on her body that melted her from head to toe when touched the right way by the right man.For Elle, it was her neck.“How you sound when I touch your shoulder,” he continued, letting his fingers graze her collarbone. Her bones turned liquid. Any ounce of resolve still left in her evaporated. She could say it was the thrill of the night, that it was the joy of hitting a massively vital professional goal, or perhaps it was the fact that no one had made her feel this way in years.But none of that was true.It was him. He just did something to her.A shiver rolled down her spine. “No, it doesn’t sound like that at all,” she said, trying faintly to deny the way she responded to him.He nodded vigorously. “Yes, it does. Just listen to that crescendo. It sounds like you when I— ”She grabbed his thigh and dug in her nails. The contact silenced him, but reminded her of how much she liked contact with him.Great job, Elle.Being so close to him was an injection of lust in her bloodstream, and Elle knew what happened when she was ruled by lust. She knew it well, and she had the lifetime of upended choices to show for it.Not that she regretted anything in retrospect.Not one bit.But she was older and wiser now. Wasn’t she?She must be, because that wisdom was jostling its way to the front of her brain, trying to strike a deal with her body. They’d tangoed, they’d played—they’d done plenty. But she’d only fully had this man a few times. Maybe one more time and she could finally eradicate him from all her thoughts, from the dirty dreams that lasted all night and lingered too long during the day. She could say good-bye to these rampant hormones, and concentrate on her job, her family, and her promises.There was no reason not to enjoy the final minutes of this evening to the fullest. One last night of passion, then she could move on from this turbulence of longing that engulfed her every time Colin Sloan was near. Let go of the longing, let go of him.She couldn’t have him in her life, but she could have one more night.The concert ended, and the crowd applauded; their clapping and cheering rang through the ballroom.Seize the night. She turned to face him. Arched an eyebrow. Took on his challenge.Forget poker. She had other plans now. “So what’s the new tattoo, Colin? You ready to show me?”

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and fifteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. In January, she'll release BIG ROCK, a standalone contemporary romance sure to make you swoon. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).

I'm so happy to help announce the latest book in Carly Phillips' awesome Dare to Love series! DARE TO SEDUCE is out now, so what are you waiting for? If you need a little more, check out the excerpt!

Dare to Seduce (Dare to Love #8), by Carly Phillips
Publish Date: November 17, 2015Publisher: self-publishedFormat: e-ARC, provided by the authorGenre: adult contemporary romanceTo Buy:Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 3.5 STARS
(From Goodreads) Max Savage has had a thing for Lucy Dare for as long as he can remember but he values his long standing friendship with her brothers too much to cross the line. When Lucy shows up at an engagement party on the arms of another man, Max doesn’t like the changes he sees in her.It’s now or never. Max can think of one way to convince Lucy she’s with the wrong guy. He’ll dare to seduce her …

Lucy Dare has spent years trying to keep herself comfortably separate from those around her - her brothers, her cousins, her boyfriends. Max Savage is the one who won't allow her to be that way around him.

Max is the Dares' best friend and has been since they were kids. He has had a huge crush on Lucy since he knew what boys and girls do together, and, for fear of messing up his friendship with the brothers, never acted upon it. He even married someone he liked less just to try and get Lucy out of his system, and even that didn't work.

But, now Max has Lucy's brothers' blessing, so he's going for it. And when Max sets his sights on something, he gets it, no matter what. Max definitely was determined, too. Sometimes I wasn't sure why he tried so hard, because Lucy really was hard to break down.

Man - that woman was difficult to love. After losing her parents, she has decided that the best way to never experience that kind of hurt ever again is to never love someone that much again. So, she pulled away from her brothers and their new families and tried to be content living on the outside looking in. I had a hard time relating to that. I would think that losing your parents would make you treasure the family you have left even more, instead of the opposite.

Max is determined to finally get the woman of his dreams, so he keeps pressing on Lucy to open up and to be open to loving again. To her credit, Lucy tries hard. But, it's not something you either do or don't do. So, it's not as easy as either she or Max would like. There are lots of ups and downs as Lucy tries to find her way back to how she was before her parents died.

Max was awesome. I loved his strength and determination. I loved his friendship with Lucy's brothers. And I loved how he was patient with her. I had a bit harder time warming up to Lucy and relating to her situation, but there was never any denying that she and Max were perfect for one another.

I really love this series by Carly Phillips, and can't wait to continue it.

Max Savage glanced across the lush green lawn of Gabriel and Isabelle Dare’s Bedford, New York, home, his gaze focused on the sexy brunette he couldn’t get out of his head. Lucy Dare, dressed in a conservative pants suit, her luxurious dark hair pulled into a bun, stood beside her date, a Hollywood director who was a douchebag of the first order. The last time Max had seen Lucy, she’d been her wild and free self. Then she’d hooked up with that guy and she’d changed. And not in a good way. He wanted fun, sexy Lucy back.“How badly do you want to punch that guy’s teeth in?”“So badly,” Max muttered, then glanced over, realizing the question came from Lucy’s brother, Decklan Dare.Max shook his head and changed his answer, because it would do no good to let his best friend know he was obsessing over the guy’s little sister. He’d kept it to himself for years, partially as an excuse to deny what he really wanted, but regardless, this wasn’t the right time to bring up the issue.“Who do you mean?” Max asked.Decklan rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. I know you hate that Spielberg wannabe as much as we do.”“Can’t say he’d be my first choice for your sister.”“That’s rich considering it’s your fault she’s with him to begin with.” Decklan eyed Max with distinct annoyance in his gaze.“How the hell do you figure that?” Max asked.Decklan’s older brother, Gabe, joined them, and from the look on his face, he’d clearly caught the tail end of the conversation.“Face it, Savage. We know you have a thing for Lucy,” Gabe said.Just how the brothers had gleaned that bit of knowledge was beyond Max. Nobody had a better poker face than him.Decklan merely nodded in agreement.“You didn’t take your chance last time she was in town, and now she’s with that asshole,” Gabe added, angling his head toward where his sister stood with Lucas Kellan.“Well, fuck.” Max wasn’t about to deny what had clearly been more obvious than he’d intended.Both Dare brothers narrowed their gazes on him, waiting for an explanation.“What? I didn’t think you’d approve, and I wasn’t about to mess up years’ worth of friendship if you didn’t.” He was sticking to the tried-and-true excuse he’d told himself for years. In reality, Max had his reasons for staying away fromLucy for so long and for fucking up more than just his life in the process. But they were his, and he wouldn’t be sharing them.“The only way you’d compromise friendships would be if you used or hurt my sister. If your intentions are honorable, I have no issue,” said Gabe, the man who’d raised Lucy after their parents died in a car accident.Max glanced at Decklan. They both knew Max’s recent past. He’d married young, lost his wife, Cindy, in a car accident, and had a subsequent lack of serious relationships since. What Decklan didn’t know was the guilt Max harbored over the emotions he hadn’t been able to give his wife, due to the feelings he’d always had for Lucy. Hell, he’d married Cindy because he didn’t have those intense feelings, and everyone had paid a price.Max shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat and glanced at Decklan, who, like Gabe, was extremely protective of his sister. “You too? You’re okay with this?” he asked.His best friend shrugged. “Well, you’re an asshole but you’re our asshole.” He slapped Max on the back, his expression sobering. “Look, Cindy died four years ago, and you haven’t been with anyone seriously since.”Neither one of them mentioned Max’s penchant for sex clubs on the weekends. It had been a way to fill the emptiness inside him, nothing more.“But Gabe is right,” Decklan said. “I see how you look at Lucy. You should do something about it if your intentions are solid.”They finally were. For years Max had denied his need for Lucy and the emotional bond he knew they would share if they took things to the next level. Fear had driven him. Now Max was finally ready to go after the woman he’d always wanted.“Just don’t blow it or we will have an issue,” Decklan cheerfully added.Max didn’t need to be told twice. He made his way across the lawn and veered between guests, coming up to where Lucy and her date stood by the bar.

Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly’s career spans over a decade and a half with various New York publishing houses, and she is now an Indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting minute of her publishing journey. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at www.carlyphillips.com.

(From Goodreads) Jasmine Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell out of New Jersey four years ago. She's the fuel for every song he's ever written-each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with his hugely successful band is on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to Jasmine that this "kid" turned into every inch the man she's always needed...Men are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey...until tall, broad-shouldered hotness walks-or rather storms-into Jasmine's life. Sarge's return shouldn't affect her this way. He's her best friend's much younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding, insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down with it...

Finally a book about a hot cougar. And, of course, it came from the mind of Tessa Bailey.

Jasmine is just weeks away from turning 30 when her BFF's rock star brother swoops back into town after being gone for years. But, he's different from the quiet brooding teenager he was when she last saw him. He's bolder. More world-wise. More intense. And when he sets his sights on her, Jasmine finds it difficult to deny him, despite what her head tells her.

For his part, Sarge is determined to finally get what he has always wanted - Jasmine Taveras. He was always too young, too inexperienced and too afraid to go after her before. But, after his band has toured non-stop for four years, he has seen and done enough to want to settle a bit. Preferably with the woman he has wanted to see him as more than a kid brother for a long time.

It seems that in most books, you have an older experienced man showing a younger girl the ropes. I love so much that it's reversed somewhat in Crashed Out. Jasmine is definitely older than Sarge - seven years older. She used to babysit him, for crying out loud. But, Sarge has always seen Jasmine as more than just his babysitter. And, now after four years of valuable experience - of all types - he's ready to show her that he's more than just a kid.

That's a pretty tall order for Jasmine though. In addition to Sarge being her best friend's kid brother, he's also seen as the pride of their small, blue collar town. Sarge is the boy who got out and made something of himself. And, despite Jasmine wanting to do the same, she's spent all her life working in the factory like everyone else. Sarge might make her panties melt with just a glance, but the more she gets to know the man he's become, the more she feels like she can't bring him down like that.

Another woman with a huge martyr complex - *sigh*. On one hand I can appreciate Jasmine's point of view. I wouldn't want to be the reason someone successful decide to put an end to his career and stay behind in a dead end town. I'd be afraid that person would eventually resent me. And that would suck a lot.

But, Sarge proves again and again that Jasmine is it for him. She's his home, and if that means staying in town indefinitely, then he's willing to do that. It might not be a bad thing, after all, since he realizes that his relationship with his sister and his young niece needs some repairing as well. It's hard to maintain relationships like that when you're gone for four years. And, now that his band is taking a break, and Sarge is back where he grew up, he's taking stock of the things in his life that matter to him. And, he's coming up short.

I loved how Sarge absolutely refused to take no for an answer. He could see that Jasmine wasn't opposed to the idea of him, so he kept pushing her and pushing her. He took her way outside her comfort zone, and every time she mentioned their age difference or his rock star status as reasons why they couldn't be together, he blew them away with a ton of hot sex and meaningful moments. He was determined to show Jasmine that he could be everything to her, even though she was determined to keep him at arm's length.

The door is opened for book 2, focusing on River, Sarge's sister, and the glimpse I saw is so intriguing. There's definitely a story there that needs told, and I can't wait to read it. But, Sarge's and Jasmine's story was a fantastic way to kick off this brand new series from Tessa Bailey.

November 16, 2015

I am absolutely thrilled to bring you the dual cover reveal for Cora Carmack’s Muse Series! INSPIRE and INFLICT are New Adult Paranormal Romance novels and are book 1 and 2 in the Muse Series. INFLICT is due to be released in January 2016! These beautiful covers were designed by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design. Be sure to grab your copy of INSPIRE today!

INSPIRE (Book 1):

Kalliope lives with one purpose.
To inspire.
As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.
Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.
Her presence may inspire genius.
But it breeds madness, too.

And check out the gorgeous cover for INFLICT, coming January 2016!

About INFLICT (Book 2):

Wilder Bell made a dangerous bargain...
For a chance at love, he gave up his life.
History knew Kalliope as an ancient Greek muse, but to Wilder, she was simply the woman he wanted to fall asleep with every night and wake up next to every morning. He made a deal with Hades, but the only thing the Lord of the Underworld deals in is death. Now Wilder is wasting away in a cold and wretched afterlife, waiting for Kalli to come for him. She will come. He has to believe that. Because the alternative is worse than death.
Kalliope lived her entire existence knowing that she was both a blessing and a curse to anyone she encountered. Wilder was no different. She loved him, and she got him killed. Now to get him back, she’ll have to face a scheming god, a perilous task, and death itself. But before it’s done, the Underworld will take more from her than she ever thought possible.
To be made whole, all must first be lost.

About Cora Carmack:
Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). Raised in a small Texas town, she now lives in New York City and spends her time writing, traveling, and marathoning various television shows on Netflix. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

WOLF BAIT was such a great, sexy book with some twists and tugs at your heart. I can't wait for you to read it. And, really, there isn't anything stopping you since it's on sale today for only $0.99! Read on for my review, plus check out an excerpt from Wolf Bait.

(From Goodreads) When life turns to hell, most people talk about running away. Abbi Mitchell actually does it. Determined to escape her humiliating heartbreak and her overbearing mother, Abbi takes a summer job at a resort in Alaska. It's supposed to be four months of snow-capped mountains, peaceful wilderness, and figuring out if she should wait for her lifelong sweetheart to come back, as he has promised he'll do.
Instead, it's Henry Wolf.
Owner of the luxury hotel chain, Henry Wolf is cool and composed, successful with everything he touches, and undeniably beautiful. And for some reason Abbi can't fathom, he wants her—the farm girl from small town, USA with no corporate experience—as his personal assistant.
Abbi scrambles to meet his professional demands while she battles her growing attraction to him. Physical feelings she shouldn't have because he's her boss, because she's way out of her league with him, and because they'll never be reciprocated.
Until they are.
Will Abbi be able to let go of herself—her values, her dreams, and her inhibitions—to give him all that he's demanding of her?

Debut author Nina West will put your emotions through their paces and make your heart skip a beat in her new novel WOLF BAIT. Set in the beautiful Alaskan wilderness at an oasis destination hotel, you will meet Abbi and Henry – two very different people who have been broken by others in their lives and are desperate to break out of the mold in which they’ve been shoved their entire lives.

After being painfully and callously dumped by her fiancé, Abbi accepts a job thousands of miles away from her small-town home in Pennsylvania. She thinks that getting away to somewhere where no one knows who she is is exactly what her battered ego and heart need. She can gain some life experience and remake herself into a confident woman before returning home to face her ex and her overbearing family.

Abbi was not prepared for Henry Wolf.

Henry is rich, gorgeous, powerful and very intimidating. After an unexpected meeting, Henry hires Abbi as his personal assistant. He’s drawn to her innocence and goodness. She’s drawn to him for exactly the opposite reasons.

My heart hurt for Abbi. For pretty much the entire book. She escapes to Alaska to avoid a horrific situation at home – a boy she loves who, when it comes down to it, just decides she’s not good enough for him. She thinks her relationship with Henry will be different. That she can keep herself apart from her emotions and just allow Henry the opportunity to teach her all the things she wants to know. Except, feelings are never apart from the physical, and Abbi soon learns that she's not exactly what Henry wants either.

But, she just might be what he needs.

Wolf Bait has the best combination for a great romance read - a woman on a mission, a man with an agenda and sexy times that will make your toes curl. Oh yes - this is a hot book. Scorching, light your panties on fire HOT. The awesome thing is, it's paired with substance and secrets and it will keep you guessing. My light stayed on well past my bedtime because there was just no way I was putting this one down until I finished the last word.

Things aren't decided for Henry and Abbi at the end of Wolf Bait. In fact, the revelation of some of Henry's secrets puts their relationship very much at risk. I promise you will want the next book in this series, like, NOW. But, that anticipation is part of the fun, right?

“How do I get over him?” My voice is almost pleading.

“By spending the next four months fucking someone in every position imaginable.”
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of it, more than once. But it was always from a place of pain and rejection, a place I knew would drive me to have regrets down the road. “I don’t want just ‘somebody.’” Right now, the way my body’s responding to him, I want the lumberjack.
I trace the back of his neck with my fingertips. His arms are so strong, his body is so tight, his face so striking. Every fiber of my body is in tune with his, my skin prickling with the thought of these hands touching my bare skin. What would it be like to be naked with someone so big and masculine?
I twirl the little curly wisps of hair within my shaky but unusually bold fingers. “Have you ever been with a virgin?”
He inhales with a light hiss. “Not for a long time.”
“Why not?”
“I prefer women over little girls.”
I swallow against the burn of that rebuff. He’s calling me a little girl. “So inexperience bothers you?”
“It’s never appealed to me.” A wicked smirk touches his lips. “Though you wouldn’t be inexperienced for long.”
A flush races through my entire body almost instantly, the heat building between my legs at the way he talks, as if sex is a real possibility between us. Pressing my lips together to try and hide my nervous grin, I reach up to run my fingers through his beard again. What would that feel like against my skin if he kissed me? I’ve never kissed a man with a beard. I’ve never kissed anyone but Jed. “I’ll bet if you shaved your face, you’d be even more beautiful.” His jaw tenses as I caress the edge of his jaw slowly, imagining what he looks like beneath.
“Maybe I don’t want to be more beautiful.”
“You know what I mean, Lumberjack.” I rest my head against his broad frame again, burrowing my face further into his thick neck because it feels so nice and warm in there. I notice one of the buttons on his shirt has popped open. I reach for it, intent on fixing it for him, and accidently tug another one open in the process. “Oops. Sorry.” My fingertip skates across hot exposed skin as I try to fix it one-handed. Oh my God. This guy’s chest. I understand what “rock hard” means now. His skin is smooth, with a faint line of hair trailing down the middle. “Are you staying here, in the village?”
“Sure.”
“Which cabin?”
“Why?”
“Because maybe I want to find you tomorrow?”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
A cocky grin flashes. “Because if you remember any part of tonight, you’ll be avoiding me for the rest of the summer.”
I scowl into his neck. “You think you have me all figured out. What if I just want to say hi?”
“I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Fine.” My lips have been skating across his skin while I talk. Now I run my tongue along them, because it’s the closest I can get without actually licking him. “You taste salty.”
A shaky breath escapes him and he speeds up.

Did I just turn on the lumberjack? Jed used to breathe like that when I sucked on his earlobe. My ego sure could use the boost right now. “What if I wanted to find you for other things?” Man, alcohol makes me brave.

Nina West lives in the city but spends her summers in the wilderness with her husband. She loves having a steaming cup of cocoa in one hand and a steamy story full of angst in the other. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter!

November 13, 2015

Hi everyone! It's my turn to turn the spotlight on yet another of HarperTeen's amazing books coming out in the winter of 2016. And, to make it even better, I get to talk about the newest book from my friend Wendy Higgins, THE GREAT HUNT.

You guys - I have read this book. And, IT IS INCREDIBLE. And, I am dying here, because I need the next book, like, yesterday. I could gush for literally HOURS about it, but for now, I'll let Wendy tell you all about it. This is going to be a long post, full of so much awesomesauce - make sure you read all the way to the end. You don't want to miss entering the three - yes, I said THREE - giveaways at the end. (Don't forget to look for the secret word for today! Hint: it's in orange.)

Okay - I'll shut up for now. On to the good stuff.

The Great Hunt, by Wendy HigginsPublish Date: March 8, 2016Publisher: HarperTeenGenre: young adult fantasyTo Pre-Order:Amazon * Barnes & Noble
(From Goodreads) Kill the beast. Win the girl.
A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.
Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.
Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.
Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

Thank you so much for talking with me today, Wendy, on my stop of the Harper Winter 2016 Blog Tour. I can imagine this is an exciting time for you, as you just said a final farewell to your first published series, and now you are getting ready to launch a brand new series.

Back when you were getting ready to publish SWEET EVIL, did you ever see yourself here? What has been the biggest surprise to you in your career so far?
WH: Thank you, Krista! First off, I never thought I would be a published author, so this entire career change has been a surreal dream-come-true. The largest surprise, by far, was when Sweet Reckoning hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. Until that moment I still felt like getting published had just been a lucky fluke. I cried ALL the tears that day!

THE GREAT HUNT is very different from the Sweet Trilogy. Was it difficult to make the transition from writing about familiar names and places to writing about the fantasy world of Eurona?
WH: It was a very difficult transition for me. VERY. Writing high fantasy requires so much detail, but I’m not a detail person, so for me it took many revisions. In each revision I added more detail and layering. I’m still not 100% confident about it, but I do love the story and I hope that shows in the telling.

The Great Hunt is based on the Brothers Grimm’s The Singing Bone. Why that fairytale? Is it a favorite of yours?
WH: Honestly, no, I don’t like that story, hahaha. I find all of the Grimm stories too strange and creepy for my tastes. I always wanted to be that cool goth girl who loved wicked stuff, but I just wasn’t. Kuddos to all the Grimm girls out there! Two years ago, when the Sweet Trilogy was heading to an end, I knew I needed to be working on something new but I had no story ideas. Fairy tale retellings were just on the rise, so I picked up my dusty Grimm’s copy and started flipping through. I was intrigued by the title “The Singing Bone,” and when I read the intro I was like, “OH MY GOSH…” Immediate inspiration. I kept reading and got the heebie-jeebies. So really, The Great Hunt was only inspired by the beginning of that tale. :)

If you had to liken Princess Aerity to a Disney princess, which one most closely resembles her and why?
WH: Jasmine from Aladdin comes to mind first, because she’s this lonely girl stuck in a castle, surrounded by silks, dreaming of adventure, flying, and love.

The Great Hunt is a duology – when does the second book come out? Does it have a title yet?
WH: No title yet. It comes out one year after the first, so Winter 2017.

Does your husband read your books?
WH: My husband has read all of my books to date except The Great Hunt, but he’s waiting for the final copy so he can consult the maps, lol.

One final question. Rollercoasters – yay or nay?
IWH: t depends…I love regular old-school, up&down rollercoasters, but I’m not a fan of the ones that go upside down.

Thank you so much, Wendy, for taking the time to answer my questions about you and your new series. I’m so excited to see what else you have planned for us!
WH: Thanks, Krista! *smooches*

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, and her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME.

After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer.

Wendy lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband, daughter, son, and little doggie Rue.

#1 – A Harper Teen Winter 2016 Catalog prizepack of 40+ books*
*All YA titles in the winter2016 catalog with the exception of The Siren by Kiera Cass, Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige and Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard.*

Collect the daily words and phrases from each blog stop during the Harper Winter 2016 Tour (a total of 45). Once you’ve collected them all, email the saying to: HarperTeenTour@gmail.com

1.) Winner must have a valid US mailing address to receive the prize

2.) Winner must be over 13

3.) Only one (1) entry per person for Prize #2 – duplicates will be deleted.

4.) Only a completed phrase will be accepted as an entry – do not email each word/phrase daily. Wait until you have the complete saying and then email in.

5.) All email submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST 11/30/2015.

6.) Winner will be selected 12/1/2015 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before another is selected.

7.) Participating blogs and bloggers are not responsible for unsent, damaged, and/or stolen prizes sent by the publisher.

Your secret word for today is: Make#3 - Print ARC of THE GREAT HUNT + signed Wendy Higgins swag
This final giveaway is one of my own. I am so anxious to have others experience how incredible this book is, that I'm giving away a print ARC of THE GREAT HUNT. To sweeten the pot, Wendy Higgins has generously donated some signed swag from all of her books (thank you, Wendy!). This giveaway is international.